My daughter has informed me that we have to put tiger food on our next shopping list (just in case a tiger comes to tea!).
The Story: When Sophie answers the door to a hungry tiger she doesn’t expect him to eat all the food in the house, drink all the water in the tap AND drink all of Daddy’s beer. The cupboards are left bare so that when the tiger has gone Sophie and her parents have to go to the cafe for tea. Next day when Sophie and Mummy go grocery shopping they buy tiger food just in case the tiger comes back…
This book was first published before I was born and I enjoyed reading it as a child. Now I am enjoying it again with my daughter. It is the timeless story of a hungry tiger who disturbs the familiar routine of a young child before politely saying thank you and leaving! The tiger is very gentle and cuddly and Judith Kerr’s illustrations depict a growing trust and relationship between him and Sophie as the story develops. The text is written in the simple language of a very small child and I love the way that my daughter accepts the arrival of the tiger at Sophie’s house and doesn’t question the fantastical situation.
I can’t completely put into words why this book is so appealing, it is often that the simplest of stories are those that we want to read and listen to again and again.
The Tiger Who Came to Tea has also been translated into German. There is also a Tiger Who Came to Tea stage show.
Age Range: 3 +
Author / Illustrator: Judith Kerr
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